Last week, I got a call from a client who said to me “Beth, it seems ridiculous to be hiring during all of this uncertainty, but I still need this position filled, and I need it filled with the right fit. Let’s keep going.” Like some of you, I have owned my businesses during 9/11, during the Recession of 2008-2009, and now through COVID-19. And through all this uncertainty, the same question keeps coming up over and over.
Should I move forward with hiring?
Here are some things you should consider when making a decision.
- Hire what you need today. Many of my clients are true visionaries, and their gift in the world is to think globally rather than immediately. What I mean by that is they are thinking 5 years down the road. For example: “If I hire this Social Media Coordinator, they can become my VP of Marketing in five years.” That may or may not be true, but it doesn’t matter right at this moment. What you need TODAY is a Social Media Coordinator. Focus on that.
- Go back to basics. While you have downtime, focus on where your company isn’t doing well during the good times. Maybe your follow-through with clients isn’t speedy enough. Maybe there is a gap in your sales pipeline. Maybe production is slower than it should be. The economy will come back; it always does. So, when the boom comes, do you have the right people in the right seats on the bus? Is your infrastructure in place? Take a few minutes to really think this through, and it will help you decide if hiring is necessary and prudent right now.
- Trust your gut. Crazy or not, when you need a position filled, you need it filled right. Make sure that your interview process is solid enough to hire the right person the first time. And, if you need this position filled today, then move forward confidently.
There is no doubt that hiring during uncertain times is a leap of faith. It is a step into the unknown, which can be scary and exhilarating at the same time. When you are ready to take the leap, then let’s take it together.